Systems and methods for a bidirectional multi-function communication module

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are disclosed for bidirectional multifunction communication between a computing device and applications located at an external server. The bidirectional communications allows an operation to be performed on a file using a computing device and an external server. In one implementation, an application resides on a desktop computer that is connected to the Internet. The application sends a request to an external server accessible through the Internet using a bidirectional communication system. The server accepts and processes the request and provides data back to the computer via the same bidirectional communication system. A user may then access the data, manipulate it and provide an additional request to the server via the bidirectional communication system.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/909,419, filed Oct. 21, 2010, which claims priority from U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/333,101, filed May 10, 2010, thedisclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein intheir entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to computer system applications andmore particularly, to methods and systems that provide bidirectionalcommunications with remote software through an intermediary softwaremini-application located on a user computing device, such as a desktopsystem.

BACKGROUND

The installation and use of desktop-based software programs, such asMicrosoft Office®, Adobe® Acrobat®, Dreamweaver®, Autodesk® and manyother document lifecycle software programs, has become commonplace inbusiness and personal applications. While these products, referred toherein as parent programs, provide users with many usefulfunctionalities, the potential for additional features has led to thedevelopment of third party products that enhance the capabilities of thedocument lifecycle software programs. These third party products weredeveloped and designed to integrate with the parent programs to provideadditional features that compliment those of the parent program andinclude products that compare documents, remove metadata from documents,convert an electronic document to PDF, convert a PDF document back to aword processing document or a spread sheet, edit PDF documents, assistwith the numbering of documents created in word processing programs, adddocument identification stamps, or take screenshots of regions orselected areas of computer screens.

While these software programs allow users to perform tasks moreefficiently, each desktop-installed software program demands a certainamount of computing resources. In addition, certain desktop-installedsoftware programs may create a resource or usage conflict with otherexisting desktop-installed software programs. This may occur when oneprogram attempts to integrate with another program or when two programsattempt to use the same integration point to integrate with a thirdprogram.

Further, integration of multiple products may cause a parent program toslow down during initial start-up while integrated products load. Athird-party product integrated into a parent program is often referredto as an “add-in” and often results in the addition of an icon on theparent program's toolbar to activate the third-party product. Theseadditional icons may take up valuable screen space.

A desire to access computer software products from any computer at anylocation has led to cloud computing as an alternative for organizationsand individuals seeking new ways to manage and access multiple softwareprograms. Also referred to as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), cloudcomputing is Internet-based computing, where computers and other devicesaccess hosted software applications in an on-demand scenario. Users loginto or otherwise access a cloud computing software program through anInternet-connected interface, for example an Internet browser, andaccess the full resources of the cloud computing software through thisInternet-connected interface.

Cloud computing frees computing resources at the user's local computingdevice and eliminates problems with integrating third party softwareapplications by liberating users from the need to install theapplication and run it on their electronic computing device. Examples ofcloud computing software include the sales management solution,SalesForce.com®, and the document management solution, NetDocuments™.These products have established robust software solutions located onexternal servers and are available to users through the Internet withoutdesktop installation requirements.

Several issues with the cloud computing model have limited its fulladoption. First, users accustomed to the desktop-installed softwaremodel are not yet fully comfortable with the cloud computing model,which requires visiting an Internet location to access a softwareprogram rather than simply accessing that software program directlythrough the user's desktop. Second, while cloud computing softwareprograms may display results of computer processing requests, they donot always have the ability to enable further editing of those resultsor manipulation of preferences or settings at the cloud level. Thislimits a user's interactivity with such programs. Finally, requiring anInternet connection in order to access software programs for usersunaccustomed to such requirements and an inability to access some or allfunctions of a software program in the absence of Internet connectivitymay cause users to become frustrated and unwilling to adopt the cloudcomputing model.

A need exists for a product that allows for the advantages provided bythe cloud computing model but does not remove advantages of desktopapplications. Currently available products do not provide the rightmethodology to meet these needs.

A desktop widget is a small application located on a user's desktop. Adesktop widget takes up minimal computer resources while still providinginformation to a user. Desktop widgets give users the ability to viewdiscrete and pre-published information from particular data sources,located either on a computer workstation or at an external location.Desktop widgets traditionally provide unidirectional personalizedinformation after receiving a user's predetermined preferences. Forexample, a weather widget asks the user to choose which city's weatherthey wish to view. After receiving that choice the widget isunidirectional and only brings back pre-published weather forecastinformation for the chosen city from an external source, such asWeather.com.

FIG. 1A is a diagram providing a prior art example of the workflowrelationship associated with traditional widget applications. In FIG.1A, user 102 receives data from widget 104 that is located on desktopcomputer 106. The data is delivered to the user from the externalserver, for example, a cloud computer software program executing onexternal server 108, through widget 104 installed on desktop computer106. As shown in FIG. 1A, data is passed uni-directionally and for onespecific function, starting at external server 108 and ending at user102.

Because widgets provide a single-function and serve only a simpledefined purpose, the level of interaction between a user and such aresource is limited. For example, there is no widget that can comparedocuments or convert a word processing document to PDF or a PDF documentto a word processing document. While a user can define predeterminedsettings and other parameters of their relationship with the widgetapplication, only pre-published information is pulled from an externalsource (e.g., a blog online, a clock residing on a computer application)and then presented to the user for viewing via the widget graphical userinterface (GUI).

SUMMARY

Disclosed embodiments provide a bidirectional multi-functionmini-application with the capacity to integrate local clientapplications and a cloud-based computer software program. Thismini-application is hereby referred to as the bidirectionalmulti-function communication module (BMCM). The BMCM maintains distinctdifferences from widgets by providing bidirectional communicationbetween (1) the user, (2) the client application, and (3) the externalsource. Users engage with the server by requesting processing at adetailed level through the BMCM on their desktop or other localcomputing device. The requests, which may include processing performingan operation on one or more files or performing one or more tasks, arethen sent through the BMCM to the external server, where the processingoccurs. The external server returns the resulting documents, files,requests, responses, or other outputs to the user via the BMCM or viaother mechanisms of communication.

Disclosed embodiments of a BMCM solution may mirror the capabilityprovided in desktop applications, such as comparing documents, cleaningmetadata, converting documents to PDF, extracting PDF documents to wordprocessing documents or spread sheets, or performing other capabilities.Disclosed embodiments may also provide the ability to modify preferencesand settings indicating how information is processed or presented andthe ability to send new documents or requirements back to the externalserver application for additional processing. These features may beprovided without the drawbacks of having to install a desktopapplication, such as integration problems, upgrading software onmultiple computing devices, and usage of computing device resources. Inaddition, disclosed embodiments may also eliminate the need for users tovisit a Web site to access cloud computing functionality. A BMCM mayenable users to work on their desktop computer or other computingdevice, with the BMCM managing all processing between the user and thecloud computing software application, including submitting and receivingdata and requests.

Consistent with disclosed embodiments, a system is provided forperforming an operation on a file using a local computing device and anapplication on an external server. The system may include a processorand a memory. The memory may include instructions that cause theprocessor to receive a request at the local computing device to performan operation on a first file and to receive the first file. The memorymay further include instructions that may cause the processor to formatthe request and the first file so that the request can be interpreted byan application on an external server. The processor may send the requestand the first file to the external server. The external server mayperform the operation on the first file and create a response thatincludes a second file. The processor may receive the response and thesecond file created by the external server.

Consistent with other disclosed embodiments, a method is provided forperforming an operation on a file using a local computing device and anapplication on an external server. The method may include receiving afirst file and request from the local computing device to perform anoperation on the first file. The method may further include performingthe operation on the first file, resulting in the creation of a secondfile. The method may further include sending a response that includesthe second file to the local computing device.

Consistent with other disclosed embodiments, tangible computer-readablestorage media may store program instructions that are executable by aprocessor to implement any of the methods, disclosed herein.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory onlyand are not restrictive of the disclosed embodiments, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate several embodiments and togetherwith the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1A is a diagram providing a prior art example of the workflowrelationship associated with a widget application.

FIG. 1B is a diagram providing an example of a bidirectionalmulti-functional communication module and its multidirectionalrelationship with external services, consistent with certain disclosedembodiments.

FIG. 1C is a diagram providing an example of the workflow relationshipassociated with the bidirectional multi-functional communication module,consistent with certain disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a diagram presenting an overview of the components of a BMCMand a method by which it provides bidirectional multi-functionalcommunication between a user and an external server, consistent withcertain disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of an exemplary process by which bidirectionalcommunication occurs between a local computing device and cloudcomputing software programs via the bidirectional multi-functionalcommunication module interface, consistent with certain disclosedembodiments.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary interface for a bidirectional multi-functionalcommunication module, consistent with disclosed embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Disclosed embodiments may enable users to manage preferences andsettings for performing an operation on a file using a cloud computingsoftware program through the BMCM, as opposed to being required to visitand log in to an Internet location. Disclosed embodiments may alsoprovide for the transmittal of documents and other information throughthe BMCM to one or more cloud locations for processing and then deliverthose processed documents to the user. The user may receive theprocessed documents either as saved files in a desktop location, viaemail, or as hyperlinked files. Thus, the processed documents can easilybe opened and manipulated in a native desktop-based software program,including word processing programs such as Microsoft Word, spreadsheetprograms such as Excel, and other programs such as PowerPoint or AdobeAcrobat. Disclosed embodiments may also provide for offline modes, inwhich users can access limited functionality and store processingrequests within the BMCM for full processing at a later date or timewhen the user's electronic computing device connects with the Internet.

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments, examplesof which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. One of ordinaryskill in the art will recognize that the disclosed embodiments can bemodified in various respects, all without departing from the spirit andscope of this disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions areto be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.Wherever convenient, the same reference numbers will be used throughoutthe drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1B is a diagram providing an example of a bidirectionalmulti-functional communication module and its multidirectionalrelationship with external services, consistent with disclosedembodiments. In the example of FIG. 1B, BMCM 112, located on desktopcomputer 114, may receive requests submitted by user 110. While FIG. 1Bshows BMCM 112 installed on a desktop computer disclosed embodiments arenot limited to desktop computers. BMCM 112 may be installed on otheruser electronic devices, such as smart phones, laptop computers, ornetbook computers. The user requests may include an instruction toperform an operation on an identified file, such as a request to removemetadata from a word processing document or a request to compare twospreadsheets. BMCM 112 may send the requests, and any data or filesneeded to execute the request, to external servers 116. In certainembodiments BMCM 112 relies on components of external server 116 toperform the operations, resulting in a small installation footprint andon the user device. External servers 116 may be part of one subsystem ormay be independent from each other. If independent from each other,external servers 116 may communicate with each other over a network,such as the Internet. External servers 116 may process the requests andsend the requested data back to user 110 via BMCM 112. In someembodiments, data may be returned from external servers 116 via BMCM 112for user 110 to access and manipulate in native software. For example,the requested data may be a cleansed version of a word processingdocument or a spreadsheet showing insertions and deletions and externalservers 116 may provide BMCM 112 with the cleansed document or thespreadsheet. User 110 may modify or save these files once received fromBMCM 112. This provides a bidirectional relationship in which data ispresented and requests are made on both sides of the relationship model.

FIG. 1C is a diagram providing an example of the workflow relationshipassociated with the bidirectional multi-functional communication module,consistent with disclosed embodiments. FIG. 1C shows an example of themethod by which BMCM 112 may send and receive multiple tasks and otherprocesses to multiple parent applications via external servers. In thisexample, BMCM 112, located on a desktop computer 120, may send Task 1(122) and Setting Change Request 1 (124) through External Server 1 (126)to Parent Application 1 (128). This parent application may be one ofmany, such as document comparison, metadata removal, screen capture,litigation document support, or PDF manipulation software. ParentApplication 1 (128) may receive tasks and/or setting change requests,such as 122 and 124. Parent Application 1 (128) may process the tasksaccording to any settings requested, such as Setting Change 1 (124), andsend the result, via the same communications channel, to BMCM 112 ondesktop computer 120. Because BMCM 112 allows bidirectionalcommunication, the process of task definition, settings management, orother application management tasks, may take place either at BMCM 112 orat the parent application. This process of communication may be repeatedmultiple times.

FIG. 1C presents a second example in which BMCM 112, located on adesktop computer 120, may submit Task 2 (130) and Setting Change 2 (132)through External Server 2 (134) to Parent Application 2 (136). As withParent Application 1 (128), Parent Application 2 may perform Task 2according to Setting Change 2 and send data back to BMCM 112. In certainembodiments BMCM 112 may sense server status. For example, if externalServer 2 is down, BMCM 112 may sense that Server 2 is unavailable and,therefore, send a request to Server 1 instead. In other embodiments,BMCM 112 may determine the location of the different servers and givepriority to servers in closer proximity priority.

FIG. 2 presents an overview of the components of an embodiment of a BMCMand demonstrates how a BMCM may provide bidirectional communicationbetween a user and an external server to enable operations of one ormore files, consistent with disclosed embodiments. Disclosed embodimentsof a BMCM may expand standard cloud computing services and widgetarchitectures through use of bidirectional multi-function service (BiS)components that exist independently and outside of core clientapplications, such as document processing programs. In disclosedembodiments, bidirectional information/data exchanges between the BMCMand BiS components may occur through a Communication Layer (CL). TheCommunication Layer enables exchanges between BMCM components andoutside programs, applications, and/or components. This communicationprocess is made up of a series of transactions between the BiS and theBMCM enabled by a transaction-level contract service agreement (CSA).The CSA is the communication standard that establishes measures by whichexternal components, programs, or applications using the BMCM can accessBiS components. Bidirectional exchanges occur at this layer and the CSAmay control access to BiS components through authentication of a user'saccount.

In this particular embodiment, BMCM 112 contains two potential actionsfor an application: change settings (204) and upload a file (206). Forexample, application 202 may represent a request to remove metadata froma file, a request to compare two documents, a request to turn a documentinto a PDF document, a request to translate a document, or a request toadd a signature to a document. Application 202 may also initiate arequest representing a change to the settings applied to one of theseother requests. A file may be the object of the request and be uploadedwhen a user selects the file using button 206. Some requests, such as adocument comparison, may require two or more uploaded files. In someembodiments, selection of action 204, action 206, or both may submit theaction with any associated files to BMCM User Interactivity Element 208,which may be a component of BMCM 122. Element 208 may format thesubmitted action into a request format that can be recognized by anexternal server. The request may be either a request for settingchanges, a request to perform an operation on one or more files thathave been uploaded, or both.

After formatting the request, element 208 may send the request to theexternal server via an Internet connection through Transaction-levelContract Service Agreement (CSA) 210. CSA 210 is a protocol by whichdisclosed embodiments may authorize a request and communicate with andpass on requests to the external server. Authorization may beaccomplished through use of a user account having a login and password.In certain embodiments, CSA 210 resides on the user's computing systemas part of BMCM 112. In such embodiments, CSA 210 may connect toauthorization databases on a server to obtain an authorization code. CSA210 may add the authorization code to the request, thus authenticatingthe request. CSA 210 may then use communication layer 218 to communicatethe request to Independent Bidirectional Service (BiS) component 212. Inother embodiments, CSA 210 may reside on an external server incommunication with BiS 212. In such embodiments, element 208 mayincorporate in the request user data needed to authenticate the requestand may use communication layer 220 to send the request, including theuser data, to CSA 210. After receiving the request from BMCM 112, CSA210 may use the user data to authenticate the request before forwardingthe request to BiS 212.

Communications between BMCM 112 and BiS component 212 may be based onindustry standard XML definitions. In certain embodiments where CSA 210resides on the user's computer system, this communication may occurthrough communication layer 218 using standard HTTP transport protocolusing Representational State Transfer (REST) and/or Simple Object AccessProtocol (SOAP) methods (protocols for Accessing Remote Objects), inwhich each unique transaction represents either a request or a response.The disclosed embodiments may use both push and pull basedcommunication. In certain embodiments the REST and/or SOAPcommunications may be encrypted for security purposes. In otherembodiments where CSA 210 resides on a server, the communication betweenBMCM 112 and BiS component 212 may occur in the same way throughcommunication layer 220.

As discussed in more detail below with regard to FIG. 3, if BMCM 112does not detect a connection to the Internet it may store the requestuntil BMCM 112 is connected to the Internet. When connected to theInternet, BMCM 112 may use CSA 210 to integrate and communicate userrequests in real time with an external server housing BiS component 212server. In this manner, the system may provide full applicationinteractivity to the user outside of existing standards for cloudcomputing architectures.

Once CSA 210 authenticates a request, CSA 210 may submit the request toIndependent Bidirectional Service (BiS) component 212. BiS component 212acts as the request processing center located at an external server. BiScomponent 212 may include one or more components that process requestsreceived from CSA 210. Each component, such as component 214 may havethe ability to process several different requests from several differentBMCMs. Alternatively, component 214 may only process one kind of requestfrom various BMCMs, such as a request for removing metadata, andcomponent 216 may only process a different kind of request, such as arequest to compare two documents, from the various BMCMs. In disclosedembodiments, BiS component 212 may submit a response back to CSA 210,which in turn may pass the response to BMCM User Interactivity Element208. Responses may include a file cleansed of metadata, a marked-updocument showing changes between two uploaded documents, or confirmationof a change in settings. Once a response is received at BMCM 112, a usermay open, access and otherwise manipulate the file or setting sent asthe response. In some embodiments BMCM 112 may allow a user to save aresponse directly into a document management system. A documentmanagement system is used to track and store electronic files andmetadata associated with the files.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of an exemplary process by which bidirectionalcommunication occurs between a local computing device and cloudcomputing software programs via the BMCM 112 interface. In Step 302, theuser uploads a file into BMCM 112. Such an action can be accomplished inmultiple ways, such as dragging a file into BMCM 112 or selecting abrowse button in the BMCM 112 user interface and navigating to thelocation of a file in a local or network location. In Step 304, BMCM 112may receive the parameters by which the file (or files) will beprocessed. An example of a parameter definition may include a requestfor metadata removal and a definition of the types of metadata toremove. Alternatively, a parameter definition may include a request tocompare two documents and a definition of how the inserted and deletedtext should appear, such as red inserted text and blue-strikethroughdeleted text.

In Step 306, BMCM 112 may check to see if the computer is connected tothe Internet. If so, the parameters and any uploaded files may betransmitted to the external server location via the communication layer,as shown in Step 314. The external server may then process the file,based on the user-defined parameters at Step 316. At Step 318, theexternal server may return files to BMCM 112 and, at Step 320, the usermay open or otherwise access the file from BMCM 112. In certainembodiments the user may save the file to a document management system.In Step 322, BMCM 112 may receive input that redefines the parameters bywhich the file is processed and/or may receive input that redefines thetask for processing. For example, a user may wish to change theappearance of inserted text, or may wish to perform metadata removal onthe resulting document. If so, in Step 322, a request may be resubmittedto the external server and the process continues at step 306.

If, at Step 306, BMCM 112 establishes that the user's computing deviceis not connected to the Internet, BMCM 112 may first determine, at Step308, whether the proposed action can be processed without Internetaccess. If it cannot be processed, the BMCM may store the file and thedefined parameters at Step 310 until the computer is again connected tothe Internet, at which time the process may restart at Step 314. If theaction may be processed without Internet access, at Step 312, BMCM 112processes the files. The user may then open or otherwise access the fileat Step 320.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary interface 400 for a bidirectionalmulti-functional communication module, consistent with disclosedembodiments. BMCM 112 may use an interface, such as interface 400, toreceive requests from a user. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a usermay select from several applications 202 offering operations to performon electronic files, such as comparing the files, cleaning metadata fromthe files, converting the files, or extracting information from thefiles. Once an application is chosen, a user may use interface 400 toselect the files on which an operation is to be performed. A user mayalso use interface 400 to determine how to receive the result of theoperation. For example, a user may receive the result of the operationvia a download link, via e-mail, or from the interface itself. Settingpreferences may also be available to a user via interface 400. Forexample, if a user chooses a compare operation, the user may wish tohave inserted text shown in green and deleted text shown in purple. BMCM112 may receive the data representing these user selections throughinterface 400 and communicate them to BiS component 212.

The above-described devices and subsystems of disclosed embodiments caninclude, for example, any suitable servers, workstations, PCs, laptopcomputers, PDAs, Internet appliances, handheld devices, cellulartelephones, wireless devices, or other devices capable of performing theprocesses of the exemplary embodiments.

All or a portion of the devices and subsystems of the exemplaryembodiments may be implemented using one or more general purposecomputer systems, microprocessors, digital signal processors,micro-controllers, and the like, programmed according to the teachingsof exemplary embodiments, as will be appreciated by those of ordinaryskill in the computer and software arts. To implement such an embodimentas well as other embodiments, a single computer system may be programmedto perform the special purpose functions of one or more of the devicesand subsystems of the disclosed embodiments. On the other hand, two ormore programmed computer systems or devices may be substituted for anyone of the devices and subsystems of the exemplary embodiments.Accordingly, principles and advantages of distributed processing, suchas redundancy, replication, and the like, increase the robustness andperformance of the devices and subsystems of the exemplary embodiments.

The devices and subsystems of the exemplary embodiments can communicatewith each other using any suitable protocol and can be implemented usingone or more programmed computer systems or devices. One or morecommunication mechanisms may be used with disclosed embodiments,including, but not limited to, Internet access, telecommunications inany suitable form (e.g., voice, modem, and the like), and wirelesscommunications media, and the like. For example, employed communicationsnetworks or links can include one or more wireless communicationsnetworks, cellular communications networks, 3G communications networks,Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTNs), Packet Data Networks (PDNs),the Internet, intranets, or a combination thereof.

Appropriate software may be prepared by programmers of ordinary skillbased on the teachings of the exemplary embodiments. Further, thedevices and subsystems of the exemplary embodiments can be implementedon the World Wide Web. In addition, the devices and subsystems ofexemplary embodiments may be implemented by the preparation ofapplication-specific integrated circuits or by interconnecting anappropriate network of conventional component circuits, as will beappreciated by those skilled in the electrical art. Thus, the exemplaryembodiments are not limited to any specific combination of hardwarecircuitry and/or software.

Stored on any one or on a combination of solid, tangible computerreadable media, disclosed embodiments may include instructionsprogrammed according to the disclosed teachings for controlling thedevices and subsystems of embodiments, for driving the devices andsubsystems of embodiments, and for enabling the devices and subsystemsof embodiments to interact with a user. Such software may include, butis not limited to, device drivers, firmware, operating systems,development tools, applications software, and the like. Softwareimplementing exemplary embodiments may include any suitableinterpretable or executable code mechanism, including but not limited toscripts, interpretable programs, dynamic link libraries (DLLs), Javaclasses and applets, complete executable programs, and Common ObjectRequest Broker Architecture (CORBA) objects implemented using a varietyof programming languages, such as Java, C, C++, JavaScript, or any othernow known or later created programming language. Moreover, parts of theprocessing of the exemplary embodiments can be distributed for betterperformance, reliability, and cost. The described implementationincludes software, but the disclosed embodiments may be implemented as acombination of hardware and software.

In addition to the stored instructions programmed according to thedisclosed teachings devices and systems of disclosed embodiments mayinclude computer readable media for storing information relating tovarious processes described herein using data structures, tables,records, and/or other data described herein. Computer readable media caninclude any suitable medium that participates in providing instructionsto a processor for execution. Such a medium may take many forms,including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media,transmission media, and the like. Non-volatile media can include, forexample, hard disks, optical or magnetic disks, magneto-optical disks,floppy disks, CD-ROM and the like. Volatile media can include dynamicmemories, and the like. Transmission media can include coaxial cables,copper wire, fiber optics, and the like. Common forms ofcomputer-readable media can include, for example, a floppy disk, aflexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other suitable magneticmedium, a CD-ROM, CDRW, DVD, SD cards, any other suitable opticalmedium, punch cards, paper tape, optical mark sheets, any other suitablephysical medium with patterns of holes or other optically recognizableindicia, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other suitablememory chip or cartridge, or any other suitable medium from which acomputer can read.

One or more databases of the devices and subsystems of the disclosedembodiments may store the information used to implement the disclosedembodiments. The databases may be organized using data structures (e.g.,records, tables, arrays, fields, graphs, trees, lists, and the like)included in one or more memories or storage devices listed herein. Theprocesses described with respect to disclosed embodiments may includeappropriate data structures for storing data collected and/or generatedby the processes of the devices and subsystems of the disclosedembodiments in one or more databases thereof.

The foregoing descriptions have been presented for purposes ofillustration and description. They are not exhaustive and do not limitthe disclosed embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Modificationsand variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may beacquired from practicing the disclosed embodiments. It is intended thatthe specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with thetrue scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method for performing anoperation on a file using a mini-application installed on a computingdevice in communication with an external server, comprising: receiving arequest at the computing device to perform a comparison of a first fileand a second file; formatting the request so that the request can beinterpreted by the external server; sending the request, the first fileand the second file to the external server, such that the externalserver performs the comparison; and receiving a response comprising acomparison file from the external server that is based on the externalserver performing the operation on the first file.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: determining that a connection between thecomputing device and the external server does not exist; and storing therequest and the first file until a connection between the computingdevice and the external server is established.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the request further comprises a preference that is used by theexternal server to perform the comparison.
 4. The method of claim 1,further comprising obtaining authentication for the request and addingto the request an indication that the request has been authenticated. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the response further comprisesautomatically saving the comparison file into a document managementsystem.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first file is receivedfrom a document management system.
 7. The method of claim 1, whereinreceiving the response further comprises sending the comparison file toa user.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the request further comprisesinformation used to authenticate the request.
 9. A system for performingan operation on a file, comprising: a computing device comprising atleast one processor; and a mini-application installed on the computingdevice, the processor configured to execute the mini-application toperform functions comprising: receiving a first request to perform acomparison of a file and a second file, providing a second requestcomprising the first request, the file, and the second file, to anexternal server that executes an application that, in response to thesecond request, performs the comparison and generates a response as aresult of the performed comparison, and receiving the response from theexternal server.
 10. The system of claim 9, further comprising thefunction of sending the response to a user.
 11. The system of claim 9,further comprising the function of providing the response for display.12. The system of claim 9, further comprising the functions of:determining that a connection with the external server does not exist;and storing the second request until determining that a connection withthe external server exists.
 13. The system of claim 9, furthercomprising the function of receiving a preference and wherein the secondrequest includes the preference, which the application executed by theexternal server uses to perform the comparison.
 14. The system of claim9, further comprising the operation of: obtaining authentication for therequest and adding to the request an indication that the request hasbeen authenticated.
 15. The system of claim 9, further comprising thefunction of saving the response into a document management system.
 16. Anon-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions which, whenexecuted, configure at least one processor to perform operations forperforming an operation on a file, the operations comprising: receivinga request at the computing device to perform a comparison of a firstfile and a second file; formatting the request so that the request canbe interpreted by the external server; sending the request, the firstfile and the second file to the external server, such that the externalserver performs the comparison; and receiving a response comprising acomparison file from the external server that is based on the externalserver performing the operation on the first file.
 17. Thenon-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprisingthe operations of: determining that a connection with the externalserver does not exist; and storing the second request until determiningthat a connection with the external server exists.
 18. Thenon-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the requestfurther comprises a preference that is used by the external server toperform the operation.
 19. The non-transitory computer readable mediumof claim 16, further comprising the operations of: obtainingauthentication for the request; and adding to the request an indicationthat the request has been authenticated.
 20. The non-transitory computerreadable medium of claim 16, further comprising the operation of savingthe response into a document management system.